T4 Caravelle adventures and other fleet news Xantia, Xsara Picasso the Roffle CLK and a T25 camper

[Andy F]

With many, many thanks to @doug this beauty arrived bang on time this morning. Having dropped Doug off at the train station the heavens well and truly opened so this is as far as I've got. To be continued...

[Andy F]

I spent the time sheltering from the rain sorting the tax and insurance so we could go on a family adventure. Whole family approval has been achieved and the grandparents have been for a joy ride too. It has clearly been very well looked after and the way it drives belies it's age and mileage. A real credit to it's previous owners.

 

Couple of questions, Direct line wouldn't insure it due to being classed as minibus, got insurance elsewhere. But that got me wondering, is it subject to mini bus, van or car speed limits? I've spent time on the gov.ul website and am actually now a bit less sure than I was.

I'm away next weekend with my band in Devon (Yarty Party festival if anyone's going?) So I think I'll take it with an air bed in the back rather than setting up a tent.

It will definitely be a very useful addition. I will be moving the Xantia estate and CLK on in the next month or two, so will sort some adverts out for those at some point. With the caravelle as back up I now plan to get a small and frugal daily maybe electric.

[Andy F]

Just realised I've put this in the wrong section mods @brownnova?  Please could you move it to the main forum.

Thanks 

[EyesWeldedShut]

10 minutes ago, Andy F said:

But that got me wondering, is it subject to mini bus, van or car speed limits? I've spent time on the gov.ul website and am actually now a bit less sure than I was.

Unless you're towing something then stick to 50 on single carriageway, 60 on dual and 70 on motorways.
Anything that looks like a 'proper' (i.e. not car derived) van is pretty much 50/60/70 
Exception is if  it's a light motorhome (check the V5 - it's unlikely to be one tho'?) then you can do 60/70/70 (i.e. same as a car).

(and we're all 20/30 in the lower limits in any case)

[doug]

Glad it gets family approval Andy. 

I could not insure it through Direct Line either despite being with them for years. I got insured through LV no problem. 

 

[gadgetgricey]

8 minutes ago, doug said:

I could not insure it through Direct Line either despite being with them for years. I got insured through LV no problem. 

Slight thread tangent, but Direct Line have gone down in my estimations last couple of years. Been with them for ages, but refused to insure our Mk1 Focus last renewal (too old) and wanted £650 for the 06 plate CRV. Tesco same cover for £275.
T4 looks great, was tempted myself as always fancied one but overkill as dont need the interior space.

[w00dy]

Lovely van. Not many unmolested T4s out there these days. Get some Polytrol on the bumpers and it'll really freshen it up.

[Andy F]

56 minutes ago, doug said:

Glad it gets family approval Andy. 

I could not insure it through Direct Line either despite being with them for years. I got insured through LV no problem. 

 

Yes, I also ended up with LV. I hope your train journey went smoothly and wasn't too complicated or interrupted by weather?

 

45 minutes ago, gadgetgricey said:

Slight thread tangent, but Direct Line have gone down in my estimations last couple of years. Been with them for ages, but refused to insure our Mk1 Focus last renewal (too old) and wanted £650 for the 06 plate CRV. Tesco same cover for £275.
T4 looks great, was tempted myself as always fancied one but overkill as dont need the interior space.

If there's one thing for certain we will definitely use the full interior space! Photos will be posted for proof when it happens. I'm definitely falling out with Direct line too. 

 

30 minutes ago, w00dy said:

Lovely van. Not many unmolested T4s out there these days. Get some Polytrol on the bumpers and it'll really freshen it up.

Definitely, there isn't much to do to smarten it up but that's definitely on the list! It is nice to have an unmolested example that will be used exactly as intended. Really looking to getting out there and moving stuff around! 🤣🤣

[jon.k]

I love mine. 
 

I’m off to look up polytron. I just used gtecniq serum on my very grey bumpers and they came up well.

[Andy F]

21 minutes ago, jon.k said:

I love mine. 
 

I’m off to look up polytron. I just used gtecniq serum on my very grey bumpers and they came up well.

To be honest I also hadn't heard of polytron or the serum you speak of! Luckily it's barely stopped raining so it looks fine ATM 🤣🤣

One more question for @dougor any other previous owner, has it had the cam belts changed recently?

[doug]

When I got the van last September the belt and tensioner had just been done. There was no paperwork for it being done but I could see the shiny new tensioner under the plastic cover. @BorniteIdentity might be able to confirm.

[jon.k]

22 minutes ago, Andy F said:

To be honest I also hadn't heard of polytron or the serum you speak of! Luckily it's barely stopped raining so it looks fine ATM

Ha yes, it’s all downhill to flowery garlands and banded steels from here.

[Andy F]

8 minutes ago, jon.k said:

Ha yes, it’s all downhill to flowery garlands and banded steels from here.

Cam belts before Camber for me 🤣

*Closes tabs for visors and bonnet bras*

[BorniteIdentity]

30 minutes ago, doug said:

When I got the van last September the belt and tensioner had just been done. There was no paperwork for it being done but I could see the shiny new tensioner under the plastic cover. @BorniteIdentity might be able to confirm.

It was all done. I paid cash for the job hence a lack of paperwork. Should the new buyer want to talk to the garage, he’d happily confirm it was done. 

Even cash it was £600!

[BorniteIdentity]

Ah. I see! Well bought @Andy F

We loved it. I bought it from a very modern vicar who was based in London. He sold because ULEZ.

The miles were accrued because he would take his big family down to the South of France two or three times a year. He spent an absolute fortune on it over the years and I genuinely think it’s the best I’ve seen for sale in two years. 

[Andy F]

Thank you so much @doug and @BorniteIdentity. 

It's definitely a really good buy, unbelievably tidy and very well cared for. The service history has made for some epic reading this evening, it rivals my Xantia for care and attention received. I will endeavour to keep on top of all maintenance and see how many miles we can get out of it! The French connection would explain parts of the service history being in French. I google translated it and hope to see the words le cam belt but to now avail. But all is clear and I can relax into ownership now.

[BorniteIdentity]

34 minutes ago, Andy F said:

Thank you so much @doug and @BorniteIdentity. 

It's definitely a really good buy, unbelievably tidy and very well cared for. The service history has made for some epic reading this evening, it rivals my Xantia for care and attention received. I will endeavour to keep on top of all maintenance and see how many miles we can get out of it! The French connection would explain parts of the service history being in French. I google translated it and hope to see the words le cam belt but to now avail. But all is clear and I can relax into ownership now.

From memory it shat an alternator whilst he was on holiday; hence a huge bill. 

It was adored by us and the reverend before. It’s a good one, no doubt. 

[brownnova]

21 hours ago, Andy F said:

Just realised I've put this in the wrong section mods @brownnova?  Please could you move it to the main forum.

Thanks 

Apologies, was in a wet field in wales. Done now. 

[cort1977]

23 hours ago, EyesWeldedShut said:

Anything that looks like a 'proper' (i.e. not car derived) van is pretty much 50/60/70 
Exception is if  it's a light motorhome (check the V5 - it's unlikely to be one tho'?) then you can do 60/70/70 (i.e. same as a car).

Respectfully I don't think it's as simple as that, there's more than one category that has the car speed limits. My t5 is category M1 and has car limits, it's a 5 seat window van. I would expect this caravelle to also be an M1.

[EyesWeldedShut]

28 minutes ago, cort1977 said:

Respectfully I don't think it's as simple as that, there's more than one category that has the car speed limits. My t5 is category M1 and has car limits, it's a 5 seat window van. I would expect this caravelle to also be an M1.

You're right (I'm wrong) if he's 1+8 seats max then he should come in as an M1 (Light passenger vehicle) so that's just like a car - I've got stuck on the idea that these were like the 109 Safari's for some reason (!) age most likely. @Andy F - ignore my ramblings above if you have M1 in the V5C  sec J (see below) then happy days - it's considered a car so 60/60/70

 

[Andy F]

2 hours ago, EyesWeldedShut said:

You're right (I'm wrong) if he's 1+8 seats max then he should come in as an M1 (Light passenger vehicle) so that's just like a car - I've got stuck on the idea that these were like the 109 Safari's for some reason (!) age most likely. @Andy F - ignore my ramblings above if you have M1 in the V5C  sec J (see below) then happy days - it's considered a car so 60/60/70

 

That's great thank you. I will await the V5 from Swansea and check then. For now I will drive slowly and save fuel!

[cort1977]

14 hours ago, EyesWeldedShut said:

You're right (I'm wrong) if he's 1+8 seats max then he should come in as an M1 (Light passenger vehicle) so that's just like a car - I've got stuck on the idea that these were like the 109 Safari's for some reason (!) age most likely. @Andy F - ignore my ramblings above if you have M1 in the V5C  sec J (see below) then happy days - it's considered a car so 60/60/70

 

It's an absolute minefield, there's thousands of threads on this on van forums, the DVLA has changed tack on how they categorise window vans and how they approve camper conversions which changes the speed limits applicable. Then there's a whole dual-purpose category that's designed for pick ups but some vans also fall in to if 4wd. Madness.

[TheOtherStu]

4 hours ago, cort1977 said:

It's an absolute minefield, there's thousands of threads on this on van forums, the DVLA has changed tack on how they categorise window vans and how they approve camper conversions which changes the speed limits applicable. Then there's a whole dual-purpose category that's designed for pick ups but some vans also fall in to if 4wd. Madness.

I kind of understand why the DVLA stopped the camper conversion thing. People (i'd call them travellers, others have different names for them), would steal a motorhome. Get a bog standard transit (preferably one they can easily scrap) and then write to the DVLA telling them that they'd "converted it" into a motorcaravan. Swap all the plates about, sell the van to an unwitting buyer.

Then there were people who were doing the absolute minimum to get things tagged as a motorcaravan. I can't remember the exact deal, but it had to have...

a bed

some form of cooking (could be a camping stove)

Seats and a table

storage

windows

Then later on they added.....

Fixed Awning

Decals

Separate door

High roof (not pop top)

My Iveco (don't laugh) wouldn't have actually been approved if it was done now, because I didn't have a fixed awning. Despite it having full water, gas, shower and toilet facilities, fixed table and so on. Which is frankly bonkers. Fortunately, it had been done long before the new rules came in, so I was 60/60/70 despite it being plated as 3.5 tons.

Wish I'd held onto it. Sold it really cheap back in 2013, just before it became really hard to get approvals through and the prices shot through the roof of "official" self-builds.

[Andy F]

We got the V5 from DVLA, it states minibus so I guess it's 50,60, 70

Which is cool, we've used it quite a lot. On the last day of school we decided to surprise the kids with a visit to Weston Super Mare for a run around, play and some tea. We came back that evening, kids asleep, van went well, good time had by all and the Van behaved beautifully.

 

I then used it to travel to a festival in Devon with my band Dub Catalyst (no I'm not a Volkswagen exhaust specialist) and again the van was superb taking lots of members of the band and gear. Check us out on Facebook/ Instagram if you like, Album will be out on Spotify imminently. *Shameless plug over*

Van life was treating us very well until this morning when I moved it to get the bins out and realised the gear selector was very vague. Unfortunately I didn't realise reverse had been left behind along with 1st, 2nd and 5th Until I was facing into the trees opposite our house and I could not go backwards. T4s are very heavy to push back up a hill on your own.

I had a poke around and couldn't see anything obvious and looking through the service history made it worse as it looked like it had new bushes on the gear selector. However, looking at the van again revealed that while many bushes had been changed (2019) this one clearly hadn't!

New one ordered and it should be here tomorrow first thing. I feel very relieved it decided to go wrong at home and not miles away! Great bus, we are really enjoying having it around! Next on the shopping list slidey windows for the back.

[JJ0063]

Very common problem!

Whilst you’re at it, check your clutch pedal for cracking. Another really common problem and if it’s not already had ‘the fix’ it’s well worth doing as preventative maintenance as to not leave you in the shit…

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/253511946104?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=otTwlsEjRNK&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=IaiIXmW2Rkq&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[Andy F]

1 minute ago, JJ0063 said:

Very common problem!

Whilst you’re at it, check your clutch pedal for cracking. Another really common problem and if it’s not already had ‘the fix’ it’s well worth doing as preventative maintenance as to not leave you in the shit…

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/253511946104?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=otTwlsEjRNK&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=IaiIXmW2Rkq&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Yes, lots of info online about it! Thanks for that, I'll investigate that tomorrow. I've just sat down for the evening and I've got the cat on my lap now. So that's me parked for the night.

[BorniteIdentity]

It makes me very happy to see a young family enjoying the old lady. I only sold it because my wife gave me the elbow and a man without a family needs more modestly sized motoring. Hope you have many, many exciting adventures with it. 

[Andy F]

23 hours ago, BorniteIdentity said:

It makes me very happy to see a young family enjoying the old lady. I only sold it because my wife gave me the elbow and a man without a family needs more modestly sized motoring. Hope you have many, many exciting adventures with it. 

Amazing, that's really nice you. We all absolutely love it.

New one fitted, it was the inboard bush that had failed, the balls of the joints were all fine. This definitely put up one helluva fight though. Ended dismantling more than planned and then removing the bracket so we could access to press it home. It was more than a battle than I thought it would be, but it's all done now and the gear change is really positive and absolute joy now. Big difference in new and old!

[tom13]

12 hours ago, Andy F said:

Amazing, that's really nice you. We all absolutely love it.

New one fitted, it was the inboard bush that had failed, the balls of the joints were all fine. This definitely put up one helluva fight though. Ended dismantling more than planned and then removing the bracket so we could access to press it home. It was more than a battle than I thought it would be, but it's all done now and the gear change is really positive and absolute joy now. Big difference in new and old!

This couldn't have gone to a better home.

Have a look at T4 short shift mod. It's worth doing if you have a spare hour.

Also cherry blossom us what you want on the bumpers.

[Andy F]

Quick post holiday update. T4, now named Bertie the Big Blue Bus, has just finished a holiday run. From Gloucester to Woolacombe for a week (lots of running around to the beach) and then onto Crealy theme park in South Devon and home of Sooty and Sweep for 3 more nights.  I idea it was still a thing , definitely an education for my children.Absolutely brilliant, just over half a tank of used diesel too which I thought was very impressive for the whole 450ish mile round trip.

 

Storm Betty was eventful on an exposed Devon coastline near Ilfracombe and we ended up farming the kids off to my parents caravan as they'd joined us for a couple of days and we slept in the T4. It was a real novelty not having to take a trailer and a roof box as in a normal car. I'm not sure I got any photos of it loaded up, but we certainly used most of the available space! Surf bus yo!

I've just finished cleaning it, but I must get a new Karcher hose for my pressure washer so I can clean the under side and under seal it again before the winter.

It uses significantly less fuel than the CLK, and the Xantia is now off the road as it just needs more doing to it and is completely rotten now sadly. I'm looking at getting either a cheap electric or a fast and frugal small diesel to replace the CLK and Xantia with now we have the T4 for lugging stuff around. Any suggestions welcome, thinking Civic, Audi A3 or something a bit interesting! This weekend my band are playing at 2 festivals (Main stage at Witcombe, exciting!) So it will be full of trumpet, drum kit, amps, guitars and keyboards tomorrow. Such a useful and likeable thing!